Communication apparatus with external activation of communications link

• US 7,428,404 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Kyoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart; James D
• Application Number:
  US10/911,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/15, 455/16, 455/41.2, 455/68, 455/70, 455/88, 455/90.3, 455/92, 455/127.1, 455/128, 455/140, 455/343.2, 455/343.5, 455/344, 455/347, 455/352, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/428, 455/500, 455/561, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/572, 455/574, 455/151.2, 455/414.1, 455/555, 455/556.2, 455/558, 370/230, 370/231, 709/225, 709/238, 709/242, 379/185, 379/323, 379/348, 379/395.01, 379/428.01, 379/428.02, 379/433.08, 379/454, 379/455, 340/10.33, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 340/853.2, 340/870.02, 726/2, 726/3, 726/4, 726/5, 726/6, 726/8
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising: first information receiving means for receiving the first information from the first external device; communication performing means for performing a communication with the second external device by receiving the second information from the second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to the second external device and; controlling means for controlling the communication performing means by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow the communication performing means to be operable to perform the communication with the second external device and a second operational state to allow the communication performing means to be inoperable to perform the communication with the second external device, the controlling means being adapted to selectively assume the first and second operational states in response to the first information received by the first information receiving means.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a memory operable to store a plurality of application programs;

a first information receiving section operable to receive said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code identifying an application program from a plurality of application programs stored in the memory;

a communication performing section operable to perform a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and to produce an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device;

a judging section operable to judge whether or not to start to execute the application program on the basis of the identification code of the application program; and

a controller operable to control said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device, said controller being adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to said first information received by said first information receiving section, wherein

said first information is represented by a radio frequency wave to be transmitted to said first information receiving section by said first external device, and

said first information receiving section is adapted to assume an energized state to receive said first information from said first external device in response to said radio frequency wave received from said first external device.

2. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a memory operable to store a plurality of application programs;

a first information receiving section operable to receive said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code identifying an application program from a plurality of application programs stored in the memory;

a communication performing section operable to perform a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and to produce an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device;

a judging section operable to judge whether or not to start to execute the application program on the basis of the identification code of the application program; and

a controller operable to control said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device, said controller being adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to said first information received by said first information receiving section, wherein

said first information is represented by a first operational state setting signal to be transmitted to said first information receiving section by said first external device,

said controller is adapted to control said communication performing section to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section,

said controller includes an elapsed time measuring unit for measuring an elapsed time in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section before judging whether or not said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time, and

said controller is adapted to assume said second operational state when the judgment is made that said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time.

3. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a housing;

a communication module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication module including a communication performing section for performing a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device; and

a communication control module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication control module including a first information receiving section for receiving said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means, and a judging section for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section and whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module, wherein

said first information is represented by a radio frequency wave to be transmitted to said first information receiving section of said communication control module by said first external device, and

said first information receiving section of said communication control module is adapted to assume an energized state to receive said first information from said first external device in response to said radio frequency wave received from said first external device.

4. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a housing;

a communication module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication module including a communication performing section for performing a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device; and

a communication control module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication control module including a first information receiving section for receiving said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means, and a judging section for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section and whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module, wherein

said controller of said communication module includes an elapsed time measuring unit for measuring an elapsed time in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section of said communication control module before judging whether or not said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time, and

said controller of said communication module is adapted to assume said second operational state when the judgment is made that said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time.

5. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a housing;

a communication module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication module including a communication performing section for performing a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device; and

a communication control module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication control module including a first information receiving section for receiving said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means, and a judging section for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section and whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module, wherein

said communication apparatus further comprises an electric battery accommodated in said housing to produce an electrical energy, and in which

said controller of said communication module includes a switching unit to be electrically connected to said electric battery, said switching unit being adapted to assume two different operational states including a first operational state to have said communication performing section of said communication module receive said electrical energy produced by said electric battery to ensure that said communication performing section of said communication module is operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to have said communication performing section of said communication module fail to receive said electrical energy produced by said electric battery to ensure that said communication performing section of said communication module is inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device.

6. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a housing;

a communication module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication module including first information receiving section operable to receive said first information from said first external device, communication performing section operable to perform a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and controller operable to control said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device; and

a communication control module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication control module including judging means for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section of said communication module, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging means of said communication control module, wherein

said first information is represented by a radio frequency wave to be transmitted to said first information receiving section of said communication module by said first external device, and

said first information receiving section of said communication control module is adapted to assume an energized state to receive said first information from said first external device in response to said radio frequency wave received from said first external device.

7. A communication apparatus to be operative in combination with first and second external devices for respectively producing first and second information, comprising:

a housing;

a communication module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication module including first information receiving section operable to receive said first information from said first external device, communication performing section operable to perform a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and controller operable to control said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device; and

a communication control module to be accommodated in said housing, said communication control module including judging means for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section of said communication module, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging means of said communication control module, wherein

said communication apparatus further comprises an electric battery accommodated in said housing to produce an electrical energy, and

said controller of said communication module includes a switching unit having inputted therein said electrical energy produced by said electric battery, said switching unit being adapted to assume two different operational states including a first operational state to have said communication performing section of said communication module receive said electrical energy produced by said electric battery to ensure that said communication performing section of said communication module is operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to have said communication performing section of said communication module fail to receive said electrical energy produced by said electric battery to ensure that said communication performing section of said communication module is inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device.

8. A communication module to be operative in combination with a communication control module including a first information receiving section for receiving first information from a first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means, a judging section for judging whether or not to allow a communication performing section of a communication module to be operable to perform said communication with a second external device on the basis of said first information received by said first information receiving section when said first information receiving section receives said first information from said first external device, comprising:

a communication performing section for performing a communication with said second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device; and

a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device, wherein

said controller of said communication module is adapted to assume said first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device and whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module,

said first information is represented by a first operational state setting signal to be transmitted to said first information receiving section of said communication control module by said first external device,

said controller is adapted to control said communication performing section to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section of said communication control module,

said controller includes an elapsed time measuring unit for measuring an elapsed time in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section of said communication control module before judging whether or not said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time, and

said controller is adapted to assume said second operational state when the judgment is made that said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time.

9. A communication control module to be operative in combination with a communication module including a communication performing section for performing a communication with a second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device, and a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device, comprising:

a first information receiving section for receiving said first information from said first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means; and

a judging section for judging whether or not to allow said communication performing section of said communication module to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device on the basis of first information received by said first information receiving section and whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code when said first information receiving section receives said first information from said first external device, wherein

said controller of said communication module is adapted to assume said first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module, wherein

said first information is represented by a radio frequency wave to be transmitted to said first information receiving section by said first external device, and

said first information receiving section is adapted to assume an energized state to receive said first information from said first external device in response to said radio frequency wave received from said first external device.

10. A communication module, comprising:

a first information receiving section for receiving first information from a first external device wherein said first information includes an identification code for any of a plurality of application programs stored in memory means,

a communication performing section for performing a communication with a second external device by receiving said second information from said second external device and producing an exchange information to be transmitted to said second external device;

a judging section for judging whether or not to start to execute a particular application program on the basis of the identification code; and

a controller for controlling said communication performing section by assuming two different operational states including a first operational state to allow said communication performing section to be operable to perform said communication with said second external device, and a second operational state to allow said communication performing section to be inoperable to perform said communication with said second external device, wherein said controller of said communication module is adapted to selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to the judgment of said judging section of said communication control module, wherein

said controller of said communication module includes an elapsed time measuring unit for measuring an elapsed time in response to said first operational state setting signal received by said first information receiving section of said communication module, and an elapsed time judging unit for judging whether or not said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time, and

said controller of said communication module is adapted to assume said second operational state when the judgment is made that said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time.